Apparatus for raising sunken vessels



Jan. 13, 1931. SEARS 1,788,691

APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS Filed July 28. 1930 nnnms n; SEARS,

OF, HIGH refit some antenna I APPARATUS FOR RAISING sunken ,vnssnns f.

Application filed July as,

In accordance with the invention, a strong i cable and Windlass are mounted upon the vessel, preferably-in the hold, a conduit leads upwardly from the hold through the upper deck, a buoy or float rests in a cradle on the upper deck, and a Windlass and light rope is mounted on the buoy,

' sunken ship by a relief vessel.

While the drawing illustrates preferredv embodiment the invention, it is to be understood that .inadapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements, the design maybe varied and changes in the minor details-of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

Fora full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof reference is to be had to the following description the drawing hereto attached whichflisa vertical transverse sectional view of a shipprovided characters.

from the bottom through theup per deck; The tubes or conduits 3 taper slightly to- 45 wardtheir upper ends and said upper ends flare and curve outwardly and downwardly to prevent the-formation of an edge which would tend to fray or injure'acable or line drawn thereover. A'windlass 14' is located in the lower end of each of the tubes or conduits and receives a strong and heavy cable5. f 1

iA cradle or framework is mounted upon the upper deck 2 in line with each of the tubes or conduits 3 and receives a buoy orfioat I the rope being. connectedto the cable to draw the sameto the surface to be utilizedfor hoisting the throughout its length,

' or the like vandjits lower invention craft is readily salvaging apparatus of lose-15amndkinu ia 6, This cradle or'framework EHlbOCllGSIUP rights 8' connecting the uprights, a bands?encircling the ring 8 -and assisting materially in reinforcing and strengthening thestructure, braces '10, aring 11 connecting the upper; ends ofthe braces 10, and struts 1 l2 connecting the ring 11 with the uprights Braces {13 vconnecttheiuprights 7 "with the router ends of the; struts 12,: The cradle J or framework preferably consists'of angle barssecuredby rivets or bolts as preferred. [The buoy orfloatfi is hollow and is formed ofsheet metal and tapers from: top to- ;bot tom, W; outer flangeylt at the top O f the buoyres'ts upon the ringfi wijthin the band 9. A centrally disposed opening 15 extends through the buoy or float 6 and tapers g A Windlass- 16 is mounted within the upper part of the opening 15 and receivesa line 17 which is wound thereon. The line 17 consists of a light rope end'is attached in anyway to the end of the cable 5'. When the buoy or float 6 is in position, the opening 15 thereof is in line with the tube 3. "Inthe event of the buoyor float 6 coi1taining;air

under pressure, the latter is indicatedbv means of-a gaugeIS fitted to the buoy. 'In the e vent of va vessel equipped with the V foundering, the buoys or floats 6 1 are displaced and ride upon the surface pr serveto anchor the buoys or merged vessel.v

floats to the subdetermined by floats. The relief ship, after locatingthe submerged vessel, draws the cables 5 to the surface and utilizes the same as means for raising the" vessel; The cables 5, when drawn to the surface, hoisting mechanism forming a part of the g the relief ship. Each ofthewindlasses ismounted in a substantial framework 19 which is attached are attachedto the 'l the water. As'the-vessel sinks, the lines 17 are unwound from the windlasses 16 and -The positionof the sunken 5 the buoys or to the bottom of the vessel. This is essential because the lifting strain, when raising a ship, s applied Ito the bottom thereoii' The cables will be marked at regular intervals to assure maintaining the vessel onan even keel during the raising operation.

\Vhat is claimed is: r 1. The combination with a ship, tubes at the sides thereof extending from the bottom through the upper deck, a Windlass in each of the tubes, a cable Wound upon the Wind lass, a cradle mounted upon the deckof the ship in line with each of thetubes, buoys for.

each of the cradles and having a central opening, a Windlass in the opening of each buoy, and a line on the Windlass passing through the opening in the buoy and the alining tube and connected to the cable;

2. The combination with a ship, a tube at each side thereof extending from the bottom through the upper deck and tapering upwardly and having its upper end flared and oi rounded formation, a Windlass in the lower end of the tube, a cable thereon, a

cradle on the upper deck inline with each' of the tubes and comprising upper and lower 'rings, a tapering buoy having an outer DENNIS E. SEAR 11.5. 

